By RICK SNIZEK, Executive Editor
BOSTON — They call themselves “A Band of Brothers,” with their banner resembling a battle sash, covered with buttons and other mementos of campaigns fought and won through the years.
But instead of engaging in military conflicts, the Priests for Justice have spent the past 50 years battling on other fronts, such as war and peace, social justice and church reform.
Over the past half-century 20 priests from the Diocese of Providence have signed on to be a part of the casual group, which they refer to as a “camaraderie” rising out of the era of Vatican II.
“All of us at the beginning were inspired by the Second Vatican Council, and we met informally,” says Father Eugene McKenna, one of the founders of Priests for Justice, which began to coalesce in the mid-to-late 1960s and became more of a force beginning around 1970.
“We were all involved in different things, but we used to meet every Saturday night at St. Michael’s Church in Providence. That would have been in the 1970-72-time when the anti-Vietnam War situation was very big in our minds and hearts.”
Father McKenna, along with Fathers Robert Beirne and Dick Maynard, and the late Fathers Neil Lynch and Ray Tetreault were among the founders of the group. They delighted in sponsoring diocesan retreats, inviting high-profile speakers of the day to present to the local faithful.
In addition to protesting the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, the group through the years
has also opposed the nation’s involvement in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They have also protested for nuclear disarmament.
Priests for Justice has also organized large-scale boycotts in support of Hispanic laborers and opposed housing discrimination aimed at minorities.
While the group often worked together on issues, some also used their individual experiences to combat singular problems. Father McKenna, for instance, successfully stood in opposition to casino gambling in Newport. He also once hosted the famed late American labor leader and civil rights activist Caesar Chavez at his rectory in Pawtucket during a visit to promote solidarity for Hispanic farm workers picking grapes in California.
In the area of church reform, the group has made recommendations for seminary formation of priests, and responded to Pope Francis’ call for local input through his synodality process.
Some of the members were involved in overseas missionary work, visiting places as far-flung as Chile and El Salvador, where they stood at the altar of the church where Archbishop Oscar Romero was executed by members of the military, and then at his grave. “He’s one of our heroes,” Father McKenna said.
Priests for Justice were also active in the areas of national prisoner reform, they joined a boycott of grapes, and they began local projects that still endure today, including the Good Friday Walk for Hunger, and the diocese’s Project Hope program.
They also supported “Don’t Forget Our Kids,” and “No Death Penalty” for Rhode Island.
“It’s like Shakespeare wrote: ‘We band of brothers, we happy few.’ We never got big numbers but we always seemed to be happy with our work, even in times of disappointment. We got through it because we were convinced of the social gospel,” Father McKenna said.
Father Beirne speaks fondly of the life’s work done by Father Tetreault, who passed away in January and was a staunch advocate of affordable housing.
“I think Ray’s presence in the neighborhood really made a difference,” Father Beirne said. “His influence in that Olneyville neighborhood was the spark for getting people involved for the renewal of affordable housing. It became an issue because of the spirit that he inculcated among the people.”
Priests for Justice were also heavily involved in the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, known as PACE.
Father Beirne said that in order to unite their vision of ministry, Priests for Justice sponsored two weekend retreats for all the priests and sisters of Providence.
“We had the Movement for a Better World, begun by Ricardo Lombardi, a Jesuit in Italy. That created a bond for what our vision of ministry is,” Father Beirne said.
Not all members of the group need share the same spirit of activism on all issues, and that seems to serve them well.
Father Farrell McLaughlin, the former pastor of St. Ann Parish in Cranston, who turns 79 this year, joined Priests for Justice in 2011 after being invited to join by Father Maynard.
“I was always impressed by their work,” he said. “I’m not one to picket and stand on the street corner every Friday night, but I just liked a lot of the work. I was beginning to see in my own life the need to redefine and refocus my priesthood as I was approaching retirement. I had done all the other, ‘in’ things, and now it was time to think about the important things. They invited me, I was impressed, and I’ve stayed with them. “
Father Gerald Harbour is the most recent member to join the group.
The former pastor of St. John the Baptist in Pawtucket, also ministered for 12 years as director of pastoral care at Rhode Island Hospital.
“I’m the youngest one of the group and I’m 76,” he says with a smile. “I’m the last one to join and I didn’t join until I retired.”
He was invited to join by Father Tetreault. He said he had always known about the group and admired their work but he was too busy with parish work and other things to take part earlier on.
“It was the best thing I ever did,” he said. “The group is a wonderful fraternity. We talk about all the cutting-edge issues that the church should be involved in. Everyone in the group is well-read; we have stimulating discussions, even with the older guys who are 95. It’s wonderful.”
Father Harbour said he wishes that more young priests would see the value in meeting monthly to discuss issues of the day and ways to solve real world problems.
The Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC), whose members share their time and talents in service to their community and participate in a yearlong spiritual development program, honored Priests for Justice during its annual Madonna Della Strada Awards ceremony at Boston College High School on April 23.
Bill Waters, a Holy Cross Alum, who is one of the founders of the New England regional chapter, is presently an IVC volunteer coordinating men’s Ignatian Spirituality retreats in Providence. In the past he has volunteered with MaryHouse, and currently works with St. Patrick’s Meal Kitchen and the Genesis Center, both in Providence.
He has also collaborated with the Priests for Justice in various capacities.
“This is both a sweet and a bitter moment,” he said in introducing Father McKenna to the podium to receive the award on behalf of Priests for Justice. “It’s sweet because we’re raising up the Priests for Justice. It’s bitter because Father Raymond Tetreault is no longer with us.”
“The Priests for Justice have been a blessing for each other and also a blessing for the people of Rhode Island, always raising consciousness and promoting positive change,” he said.
Quoting Father Tetreault as being an impetus for change, he said, “We have to do something. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Dave Hinchen, IVC regional director, applauded the work of Priests for Justice over the past 50 years.
“These men were shaped by and responded to Vatican II, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Vietnam War,” he said. “To promote Catholic Social Teaching, these priests have preached, taught, given retreats, done community organizing, picketed, demonstrated, advocated and lobbied for justice.”
Sister Anne McKenna, R.S.M., who is also the sister of Father Eugene McKenna, said she was very pleased to attend the award ceremony.
“I am thrilled that they have been honored,” she said. “They have been working for Gospel issues, justice issues, for over 50 years. They are a fraternity unto themselves, although they are very active in the diocese at large. They are an inspiration to me, and especially to my brother Gene. Now, they continue to meet regularly and discuss issues of great importance.”
